CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A man accused of making several violent firearm-related threats toward staff at a Walnut Creek medical clinic pleaded not guilty to 21 charges related to illegal weapons possession, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
It is alleged that Lawrence Robert Hansen, 68, of Richmond, made gun-related, violent threats against a Walnut Creek clinic while seeking treatment in 2022 and 2023. Staff members reported the threats to the Walnut Creek Police Department on Sept. 18, 2023.
Before making the threats against the clinic staff, Hansen was already listed on the Armed and Prohibited Persons System which tracks people who are barred from owning or possessing guns, the DA’s Office said.
In a separate incident on Sept. 26, 2023, Hansen was taken to a Walnut Creek hospital for a medical issue. A staff member noticed during an examination that Hansen had a handgun —later determined to be loaded— in his waistband. The weapon was taken from Hansen and police were informed.
On Jan. 31, because of the legal prohibition against Hansen having guns and the threats he was accused of making to medical employees, members from the Contra Costa Anti-Violence Support Effort Task Force, California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Firearms, and Contra Costa County Probation Officers searched Hansen’s residence in Richmond with a court-ordered warrant.
It is alleged that during the search, agents found 11 machine guns, more than 130 handguns, 37 rifles, 60 assault rifles, 7 shotguns, 3,000 large capacity magazines, several grenades (inert), homemade explosives, incendiary ammunition and around 1 million rounds of ammunition.
On Monday, Hansen was arraigned in Martinez on a 21-count felony complaint for possessing a large cache of illegal weapons, high-capacity magazines, and homemade explosives, the DA’s Office said.
Hansen remained in custody without bail late Tuesday in the county jail in Martinez.
He is next scheduled to appear in court March 27 for a preliminary hearing.
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